Impatiens plant named ‘Balfiepurp’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Balfiepurp’, characterized by its double type medium purple-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Impatiens walleriana.

Variety denomination: ‘Balfiepurp’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofImpatiens plant botanically known as Impatiens walleriana andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balfiepurp’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn,Ill. during April 2002. The objective of the breeding program was thedevelopment of Impatiens cultivars with fully double-type flowers,attractive flower and foliage coloration, and a freely branching,compact growth habit.

The new Impatiens cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Impatienswalleriana breeding selection designated 3583-2, not patented,characterized by its semi-double, dark burgundy-colored flowers, mediumgreen-colored foliage, and upright-mounded growth habit. The male(pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Impatienswalleriana breeding selection designated 3576-2, not patented,characterized by its semi-double, dark purple-colored flowers, mediumgreen-colored foliage, and upright-mounded growth habit. The newcultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant withinthe progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during October 2002 ina controlled environment at Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceOctober 2002 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balfiepurp’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Double type medium purple-colored flowers;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Vigorous, upright-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in flower type and flower color and from plants of the maleparent primarily in flower type and flower color.

Of the many commercially available Impatiens cultivars known to theinventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Fiesta™Purple Piñata ‘Balfiepuna’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,611. However, in sideby side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of‘Balfiepuna’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a foliage color different        from plants of ‘Balfiepuna’; and    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a petal color different from        plants of ‘Balfiepuna’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balfiepurp’. Theplants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 6 weeks in a greenhouse at WestChicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balfiepurp’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of‘Balfiepurp’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined on May 1, 2006 between 9:00a.m. and 11:00 a.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a glass-coveredgreenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercialpractice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch potsfor 6 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatureswere maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.)during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.)during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens walleriana cultivar Balfiepurp.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana breeding            selection designated 3583-2.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana breeding            selection designated 3576-2.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 8 days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 24            days.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 6 to 9 weeks from a            rooted cutting.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous,            upright-mounded.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 8.8 cm. Width: Approximately 25.8 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Quantity of main            branches per plant: Approximately 5.        -   Branch.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length: Approximately            10.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.1 mm. Length of central            internode: Approximately 1.7 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of            young and mature stems: 144C with streaks of 187C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:            Approximately 8. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement:            Alternate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Shape: Ovate. Margin:            Crenate, ciliate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation            pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf at center of stem:            Approximately 4.0 cm. Width of mature leaf at center of            stem: Approximately 2.9 cm. Texture of upper surface:            Moderately pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Glabrous.            Color of upper surface of young foliage: 137B with venation            of 138C. Color of lower surface of young foliage: 191B with            venation of 138C. Color of upper surface of mature foliage:            137A with venation of 138C. Color of lower surface of mature            foliage: 191B with venation of 138B.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.6 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.1 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 138B with            streaks of 187C.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balfiepurp’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous            blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in            greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately            6 to 9 days.-   Flower description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Double. Quantity per plant:            Approximately 11. Fragrance: None.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 5 days for bud to            progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity            showing color per plant: Approximately 8.        -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oval. Length: Approximately            1.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 8.9 mm. Color: 76D.        -   Corolla.—Shape: Hemispherical. Width: Approximately 3.9 cm.            Depth: Approximately 2.2 cm. Borne: Above the foliage.        -   Petals.—Quantity: 29. Shape: Obovate. Aspect: Flat.            Appearance: Iridescent. Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse, some            are emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Length of outermost petal:            Approximately 2.0 cm. Width of outermost petal:            Approximately 1.7 cm. Length of innermost petals:            Approximately 1.1 cm. Width of innermost petals:            Approximately 8.7 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first open: N74A.            Color of lower surface when first open: Between N74B and            N74C. Color of upper surface when fully open: N74A fading to            N74B with age. Color of lower surface when fully open: N74C.        -   Spur.—Quantity: 1 per flower. Length: Approximately 3.2 cm.            Diameter at tip: Less than 1 mm. Diameter at base:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 160C at base            transitioning to 144C at tip.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Acute angle            to stem. Length: Approximately 3.5 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4, with one fused to base of            upper petal. Shape of lateral sepals: Lanceolate. Shape of            lower sepal: Trifid. Apex of all sepals: Acute. Length of            lateral sepals: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width of lateral            sepals: Approximately 2.0 mm. Length of lower sepal:            Approximately 9.5 mm. Width of lower sepal: Approximately            1.1 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces of all sepals:            Glabrous. Color of lateral sepals: 144C. Color of lower            sepal: Closest to 155A and apex of 144D.        -   Reproductive organs.—None observed.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Impatiens has not been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Balfiepurp’,substantially as herein shown and described.